24 Nights

24 Nights
Live album by
Eric Clapton
Released8 October 1991 (US)
14 October 1991 (UK)[1]
RecordedJanuary–February 1990
February–March 1991
VenueRoyal Albert Hall, London
GenreRock, blues
Length105:20 (original album)
347:56 (expanded edition)
LabelDuck / Reprise
ProducerRuss Titelman
Eric Clapton chronology
Journeyman
(1989) 		24 Nights
(1991) 		Rush
(1992)
Singles from 24 Nights
  1. "Wonderful Tonight"
    Released: 4 November 1991[2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(neither)[4]
The New York Times(favourable)[5]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[6]

24 Nights is a live album by Eric Clapton, compiled from 42 concerts performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, in 1990 and 1991. It was released on 8 October 1991.[7] The cover illustration is by Peter Blake. It was reissued in June 2023 as The Definitive 24 Nights in a limited edition box set containing songs which were not included in the original release.[8] The reissue contains 35 previously unreleased performances and the collection is divided into three sets: Rock, Blues, and Orchestral.[9]

Background

Following a record-setting run of 12 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 1989, Clapton broke his own record in 1990, playing 18 nights at the venue between 18 January and 10 February 1990, and again in 1991, playing 24 nights between 5 February and 9 March 1991. The album was named after the 1991 run, but included songs from both the 1990 and 1991 runs.

The 1990 concerts were performed with four different ensembles. The first six nights featured a four-piece band, with Clapton, bassist Nathan East, drummer Steve Ferrone and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. The second six nights featured a 13-piece band, with the four-piece band joined by Phil Palmer on guitar, Alan Clark on keyboards, Ray Cooper on percussion, backing vocalists Katie Kissoon and Tessa Niles, and a four-piece horn section. Then came three nights with a blues band, featuring Johnnie Johnson on keyboards, Richard Cousins on bass, and Jamie Oldaker on drums, plus special guests Buddy Guy and Robert Cray. And finally three orchestra nights, with the nine-piece band joined by the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen.[10]

The 1991 concerts had a similar configuration, with four different ensembles, this time for six nights each. The 13-piece band was trimmed to 9 by removing the horn section. For the nine-piece and orchestral groups, Chuck Leavell was brought in to replace Alan Clark. Phil Collins played some shows in 1991. The blues band was reshuffled, with Joey Spampinato replacing Richard Cousins on bass, and adding Jimmie Vaughan as a regular guitarist, Leavell on keyboards, and Jerry Portnoy on harmonica; Guy and Cray were joined by an additional guest performer, Albert Collins.[11]

Recording

Five of the 1990 concerts were recorded for the live album – the final nights of the first three ensembles, and the final two nights of the orchestra.

The four-piece band recording on 24 January 1990 produced the versions of "Running on Faith", "White Room" and "Sunshine of Your Love" that were included on the CD and DVD. "Worried Life Blues", "Watch Yourself" and "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" were from the blues band recording on 5 February 1990. "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Hard Times" with the orchestra were taken from the first of those sessions, on 9 February 1990. No songs were used from the 13-piece band recording on 1 February 1990, or the second orchestral recording on 10 February 1990.

Clapton reportedly was not satisfied with these recordings, and delayed the release of a CD until the following year. Another four concerts were recorded in 1991, this time the penultimate nights with all four ensembles.

"Badge" was taken from the four-piece show on 10 February 1991. The nine-piece band session on 18 February 1991 produced "Pretending", "Bad Love", "Old Love" and "Wonderful Tonight" for this album, plus recordings of "No Alibis", "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Cocaine" which were subsequently released on various CD singles of "Wonderful Tonight".[12] "Hoodoo Man" was from the blues band night recorded on 28 February 1991. "Edge of Darkness" was from the orchestral session on 8 March 1991.

The versions of "Old Love", "Wonderful Tonight" and "Pretending" (second solo only) on the 24 Nights DVD are different from their album counterparts. They can be identified as 1991 by the appearance of Chuck Leavell who was not with the band in 1990.

Track listing (CD)

The Definitive 24 Nights (2023)

Disc one: Rock

No.TitleWriter(s)Recording DateLength
1."Pretending"Jerry Lynn Williams18 Feb 19916:47
2."Running on Faith"Jerry Lynn Williams24 Jan 19907:09
3."Breaking Point"Jerry Lynn Williams/Marty Grebb1 Feb 19906:22
4."I Shot the Sheriff"Bob MarleyFeb 19918:01
5."White Room"Jack Bruce/Pete Brown24 Jan 19906:01
6."Can't Find My Way Home"Steve Winwood18 Feb 19917:01
7."Bad Love"Clapton/Mick Jones18 Feb 19916:17
8."Before You Accuse Me"Ellas McDaniel1 Feb 19906:25
9."Lay Down Sally"Clapton/George Terry/Marcy Levy24 Jan 19908:05

Disc two: Rock

No.TitleWriter(s)Recording DateLength
1."Knockin' On Heaven's Door"Bob DylanFeb 19916:11
2."Old Love"Clapton/Robert Cray24 Jan 19908:58
3."No Alibis"Williams18 Feb 19916:39
4."Tearing Us Apart"Clapton/Greg Phillinganes1 Feb 19907:01
5."Cocaine"J.J. Cale1 Feb 19906:34
6."Wonderful Tonight"Clapton18 Feb 19918:59
7."Layla"Clapton/Jim Gordon18 Feb 19918:08
8."Crossroads"Robert Johnson18 Feb 19918:55
9."Sunshine of Your Love"Bruce/Brown/Clapton18 Feb 199111:26

Note: the digital release combines the Rock discs, renumbering disc two 10-18

Disc three: Blues

Featuring Buddy Guy on Everything's Gonna Be Alright and Something On Your Mind

No.TitleWriter(s)Recording DateLength
1."Key to the Highway"Charles Segar/William Broonzy5 Feb 19906:32
2."Worried Life Blues"Big Maceo Merriweather5 Feb 19905:24
3."You Better Watch Yourself"Walter Jacobs5 Feb 19905:12
4."Have You Ever Loved a Woman"Billy Myles5 Feb 19906:57
5."Everything's Gonna Be Alright"Walter Jacobs5 Feb 19907:23
6."Something On Your Mind"Cecil James McNeely5 Feb 19906:12
7."All Your Love (I Miss Loving)"Otis Rush28 Feb 19916:18

Disc four: Blues

Featuring Johnnie Johnson on Johnnie's Boogie, Albert Collins on Black Cat Bone, Robert Cray on Reconsider Baby, and Buddy Guy on My Time After A While

No.TitleWriter(s)Recording DateLength
1."It's My Life Baby"Don Robey/Ferdinand Washington28 Feb 19916:54
2."Johnnie's Boogie"Johnnie Johnson28 Feb 19912:48
3."Black Cat Bone"Sam Hopkins28 Feb 19914:59
4."Reconsider Baby"Lowell Fulson28 Feb 199110:50
5."My Time After a While"Bob Geddins/Ron Badger28 Feb 199110:54
6."Sweet Home Chicago"Robert Johnson28 Feb 19915:23
7."You Better Watch Yourself (Reprise)"Walter Jacobs28 Feb 19913:03

Note: the digital release combines the Blues discs, renumbering disc four 8-14


Disc five: Orchestral

Featuring the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen

No.TitleWriter(s)Recording DateLength
1."Crossroads"Robert Johnson8 Mar 19919:57
2."Bell Bottom Blues"Clapton/Bobby Whitlock9 Feb 19906:01
3."Lay Down Sally"Clapton/George Terry/Marcy Levy8 Mar 19915:51
4."Holy Mother"Clapton/Stephen Bishop8 Mar 19915:24
5."I Shot the Sheriff"Bob Marley8 Mar 19918:12
6."Hard Times"Ray Charles9 Feb 19903:52
7."Can't Find My Way Home"Steve Winwood8 Mar 19916:59
8."Edge of Darkness"Clapton/Michael Kamen8 Mar 19916:15
9."Old Love"Clapton/Robert Cray8 Mar 19919:18

Disc six: Orchestral

No.TitleWriter(s)Recording DateLength
1."Wonderful Tonight"Clapton9 Feb 19909:22
2."White Room"Jack Bruce/Pete Brown8 Mar 19915:58
3."Concerto for Electric Guitar"Kamen8 Mar 199128:57
4."A Remark You Made"Josef Zawinul8 Mar 19911:40
5."Layla"Clapton/Jim Gordon8 Mar 19918:18
6."Sunshine of Your Love"Bruce/Brown/Clapton8 Mar 19918:43

Note: the digital release combines the Orchestral discs, renumbering disc four 10-15

Track listing (DVD)

Clapton wore this custom-made Versace suit for the recording sessions in 1991.
  1. "Running on Faith" (6:49)
  2. "White Room" (6:10)
  3. "Sunshine of Your Love" (9:11)
  4. "Watch Yourself" (5:39)
  5. "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" (6:52)
  6. "Worried Life Blues" (5:28)
  7. "Pretending" (7:08)
  8. "Bad Love" (6:25)
  9. "Old Love" (13:01)
  10. "Wonderful Tonight" (9:11)
  11. "Bell Bottom Blues" (6:39)
  12. "Hard Times" (3:45)
  13. "Edge of Darkness" (6:30)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance for 24 Nights
Chart (1991–2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 49
Australian Music DVD (ARIA)[14] 34
Danish Music DVD (Hitlisten)[15] 2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16] 36
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 48
Italian Music DVD (FIMI)[18] 13
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] 29
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] 49
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 19
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 17
US Billboard 200[23] 38
US Top Music Videos (Billboard)[24] 5
Chart performance for The Definitive 24 Nights
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 187
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 30
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 64
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[28] 31
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 27
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[30] 59
Chart performance for 24 Nights: Rock
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] 146
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] 16
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 60
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 43
Chart performance for 24 Nights: Blues
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[34] 131
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[35] 25
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[36] 82
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 52
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 58
Chart performance for 24 Nights: Orchestral
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[38] 159
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[39] 31
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[40] 40
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 47
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 99

Certifications

References

  1. ^ "Eric Clapton, 24 Nights, Album - The BPI". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  2. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 2 November 1991. p. 31.
  3. ^ William Ruhlmann: 24 Nights Eric Clapton. Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  4. ^ Christgau, R. Eric Clapton. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  5. ^ Pareles, J: Ever Solid and Reliable. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  6. ^ 24 Nights Album Review. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
  7. ^ 24 Nights at Where's Eric!
  8. ^ "Eric Clapton Announces 'The Definitive 24 Nights' Box Set". Ultimate Classic Rock. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Eric Clapton's deluxe upgrade of 24 Nights: a hits collection and a collectors dream". Louder Sound. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  10. ^ 1990 Eric Clapton Tour archive Archived 19 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine at Where's Eric!
  11. ^ 1991 Eric Clapton Tour archive Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine at Where's Eric!
  12. ^ 28 February 1991 - Eric Clapton Tour archive Archived 20 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine at Where's Eric!
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Report – Issue 704" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Australian Web Archives. 18 August 2003. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2003. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Musik Video Top-10 UGE 32-2001". Hitlsten (in Danish). IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 41 dal 2014-10-06 al 2014-10-12". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (in Italian). F.I.M.I. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  19. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  20. ^ "Charts.nz – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Eric Clapton Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Top Music Videos" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 103 (51). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 76 21 December 1991. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – The Definitive 24 Nights" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – The Definitive 24 Nights" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 30/6/2023 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – The Definitive 24 Nights". Hung Medien.
  30. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 30/6/2023 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Rock" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Rock" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  33. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  34. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Blues" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  35. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Blues" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Blues". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  38. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Orchestral" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Orchestral" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  40. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 26. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights: Orchestral". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  42. ^ "ABPD Gold Sales Award – "24 Nights"". Equipboard, Inc. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  43. ^ "AMPROFON Gold Sales Award – "24 Nights"". Equipboard, Inc. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  44. ^ "British album certifications – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  45. ^ "American album certifications – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  46. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  47. ^ "Canadian Sales Rocket Up" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 103 (50). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 14 December 1991. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  48. ^ "American video certifications – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
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